BOOK READING: The Special Olympic World Summer Games is the most important sporting event in Irish history and represents a coming of age in this country, author Joe O'Connor said yesterday at a reading in the Festival Village.
Despite the sweltering conditions inside the main tent in the village, the venue was packed for a book reading from some of the country's most successful writers.
Novelists Marian Keyes, Nicola Lindsay and Joe O'Connor all read from their work on the theme of "Share the Feeling".
Journalist Dolores McKeever from Dundalk, Co Louth, who was born with spina bifida, also presented an article about personal achievements in her life and career.
Marian Keyes read a new story about the time she lost her passport in London which she said was inspired by the volume of people travelling to the Games from all over the world.
Nicola Lindsay read a selection of poems while Joe O'Connor read from his Irish Male series. The event was chaired by broadcaster Myles Dungan of RTÉ.
Novelist Maeve Binchy, who was originally scheduled to appear, had to cancel due to ill-health. Recuperating at home, she said she was disappointed not to be able to attend.
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